Love
Definition:
Love, in the biblical sense, is not merely emotion, attraction, or affection—it is self-giving, sacrificial, and rooted in God’s character. The highest form of love revealed in Scripture is agape—a love that acts for the good of another, even at great cost to self. God is love, and every command of Scripture is an expression of this divine love. True love is not feeling-driven, but volitional, holy, and transformational.
Biblical Basis:
1 John 4:8 — “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
John 15:13 — “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Romans 5:8 — “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 — “Love is patient and kind… it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Matthew 22:37–40 — “Love the Lord your God… and… love your neighbor as yourself.”
Theological Significance:
Love is the highest expression of God’s nature and the ultimate goal of human formation. We were made to love God and others—not sentimentally, but sacrificially. Agape love is not rooted in worthiness or mutual benefit, but in the will to act righteously on another’s behalf. In Christian theology, love fulfills the law, reveals the gospel, and defines the life of a [disciple]. Without love, even truth becomes a weapon.
How We Use It in DiscipleLife:
Love—specifically agape—is at the center of the DiscipleLife vision. Our goal is not simply to know doctrine or behave morally, but to become people who love as God loves. Every essay in this series flows from that aim. Discipleship is the Spirit-led process of becoming beings who are capable of agape—not just for God’s glory, but for the restoration of the world.
Related Terms:
[Agape], [God’s Nature], [Discipleship], [Obedience], [Grace], [Transformation]
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